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Problems lining up for Penn State

Problems lining up for Penn State

Penn State head coach James Franklin runs out of the tunnel ahead of the team for the Blue-White spring football game on Saturday at Beaver Stadium in University Park, Pa. (Abby Drey/Centre Daily Times/MCT)

By RICH SCARELLAReading Eagle

STATE COLLEGE, Pa. — Almost from the moment he was hired, Penn State football coach James Franklin made it clear that he will not discuss or list injuries.

That goes for assistant coaches, players and support staff, which includes the media relations office.

Franklin, however, acknowledged Saturday that as a coach he’s never dealt with the limited depth the Nittany Lions offensive line faces.

That depth took another hit during the Blue-White Game when center Wendy Laurent suffered a leg injury in the second quarter of the Blue’s 37-0 rout at Beaver Stadium.

“This is probably unique,” Franklin said without specifically addressing Laurent’s injury. “I’m not sure if I’ve ever been in a situation where you don’t even have a scholarship two-deep. And that includes guys we moved from defense and converted tight ends.

“It is what it is. We’re going to find a way to make it work.”

The injury to Laurent, who did not return, is the latest blow to the Penn State offensive line, which was thin before Franklin was hired.

Miles Dieffenbach, a two-year starter at guard, suffered a serious injury to his left knee early in spring practice, according to multiple reports. He might miss the 2014 season.

Tackle Andrew Nelson sustained an injury to his left leg last month, but it doesn’t appear to be as serious as Dieffenbach’s.

On top of the injuries, guard Anthony Alosi was charged last month with simple assault and harassment for a January incident in State College.

Franklin said Saturday that Alosi has been indefinitely suspended from the team.

That leaves left tackle Donovan Smith as the only returning starter on the line. For now, the other starters are converted defensive tackles Derek Dowrey and Brian Gaia at guard, redshirt freshman Brendan Mahon at right tackle and Laurent or Angelo Mangiro at center.

The second-team line Saturday included freshman Chaz Wright, who enrolled in January, and four walk-ons: Tom Devenney, Evan Galimberti, Andrew Terlingo and Albert Hall.

“When we started at Vanderbilt it (the depth on the offensive line) wasn’t very good either,” offensive coordinator John Donovan said. “But when we left there, they had a pretty solid unit.

“We have some good guys up front; we just don’t have a lot of them.”

Three freshman offensive linemen will enroll in June: Chance Sorrell, Noah Beh and Brendan Brosnan. Depending on the injury situation, at least one of them might see the field in the fall.

“We had a couple redshirt freshmen who played last year (at Vanderbilt),” Donovan said. “It’s tough to play as a true freshman, but it’s been done. That’s one spot where physically it’s a different level and mentally it’s a different level. It’s not easy.

“We have a little bit better depth on defense, especially up front, which is really where the game is played,” Franklin said. “I think we have some talent on the perimeter and at the quarterback position, but we have to get some things resolved up front.

“We’re going to have to be creative. We’re going to have to continue to develop these guys. We have to find a way to overcome it and embrace the challenge that we have.”

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